Fixture and hinge bracket therefor



y 1944- R. s. SANIFORD 2,353,365

FIXTURE AND HINGE BRACKET THEREFOR Filed Jill 27, 1942 Patented July 11, 1944 FIXTURE AND HINGE BRACKET THEREFOR Roy S. Sanford, Oakville, Conn., assignor to The Incorporated, Oakville, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application July 27, 1942, Serial No. 452,484

Autoyrc Company,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to bathroom fixtures and similar articles of the type adapted to be hingedly connected to a wall or similar support, more particularly to fixtures of this character and brackets therefor in which the brackets and the fasteners, the entire bracket or brackets and v the heads of the screws or fasteners being exposed to view after the fixture is mounted on the wall. Constructions have heretofore been proposed wherein, after installation of the fixture, the heads of the screws or the brackets themselves, or both, are substantially concealed from view, and certain of these prior constructions have been found quite satisfactory from the standpoint of appearance and utility.

One such type of construction in which the brackets themselves are exposed but wherein the screws or securing means are concealed, is disclosed and claimed in the applicants copending application Serial No. 324,268, filed March 16, 1940, and entitled Hinge bracket for fixtures. In the construction therein disclosed, a hinge type bracket is provided including a supporting plate having means thereon for attachment to a support, and a cover plate rigidly attached to the fixture and hingedly connected to the supporting plate for swinging movement relative thereto. In order to secure the bracket of this copending application to a wall, the cover plate and the fixture are swung away from the supporting plate so as to expose the securing means, and after securement to the wall may be swung to a position wherein the securing means ,on the supporting plate are concealed by the cover plate,

and latch means are provided for securing the two plates of the hinge in the latter position.

Although the two-piece hinge construction specifically disclosed in this copending application is capable of a wide varietyof uses in connection with many types of fixtures, the necessity of attaching one of the plates to the body of the fixture may present .difiiculties when the body portion of the fixture is formed of glass, plastics, porcelain or similar nonweldable and somewhat frangible materials. Furthermore, it is deremoval from the wall or other supporting surface in order toprovide for cleaning and-sterili zation thereof, this being particularly true in connection with fixtures such as soap dishes and toothbrush and tumbler holders, and accordingly it is a further object 10f this invention to provide a fixture and a hinge bracket therefor wherein rigid securement of the fixture to .a portion of the hinge by welding or the like is-eliminated; wherein the securing means forthe bracket, together with a substantial portion of :thebracket itself, are substantially concealed from view; wherein the fixture is readily removable without the use of tools from the supporting bracket for cleaning or sterilizing of the fixture; and wherein the bracket may comprise a one-piece stamped metal element.

In carrying out the invention in one form, a bracket is providedcomprising =a wall-engaging plate having means for securement to a Wall or similar support, an arm extending forwardly from the plate and shaped to provide an open pivot for receiving in hinged or pivotal relation, 3. portion of the fixture body, and a latch arm extending forwardly from the plate, inspaced relation to the pivot arm, arranged to engage in latching relation another portion of .the. fixture upon insertion of the first fixture-portion .into the open pivot and upon pivotal movement of the fixture to a position between the arms. The fixture is provided for .co-operation with the bracket, with an upper rear edge portion shaped to form a bearing surface for insertion in the open pivot when the fixture is tilted relative to the wall engaging plate, and a latch-receiving recess is provided in the bottom wall of the fixture adjacent .the lower rear edge portion thereof for engagement with the latch arm when the fixture ,is pivotally moved from the tilted position to a position substantially perpendicular to the supportingfplate. In this latter position the fixture is positioned between the arms with the plate and the securing means therefor underlying the rear surface of the fixture for concealment thereby, andwiththe-latch arm extending beneath the bottom wall of the fixture so as to be substantially concealedfrom view.

For a more complete understanding of themvention, reference may now be had toithe drawing, in which:

Fig. lisa perspective ,view showing ,a soap dish fixture and a hinge type bracket therefor .em-

sirable that the fixture be mounted for ready n6 bodying the present invention, mounted on a wall or similar support;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the fixture and bracket shown in Fig. 1, showing the fixture in tilted position for insertion of a portion thereof into the open pivot of the bracket;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the fixture and supporting bracket in their final assembled position;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the onepiece bracketillustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive;

Fig. 5 is a sideelevational View somewhat similar to Fig.2 but illustrating a modified form of fixture and bracket embodying this invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 of the modification shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the bracket employed in the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view showing the rear wall of the fixture illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a towel bar fixture embodying the present invention.

Referring now to thedrawing, the invention is -shown' in- Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, as embodied in "a soap dishfixture having a body portion 50 which is formed of glass, but which may of course be' formed of any suitable-material such for example as plastics, porcelain or the like. The body portion In is provided, as shown, with a central 'depressi'on-or recess II for receiving articles to V be supported in'the fixture, and a rear edgeportion-of the fixture intermediate the ends of the body portion is shaped, as shown, to provide a *bearing portion l2 having a substantially cylindrical or uniformly curved surface.

Formed in the bottom wall of the soap dish, as shown best in Figs; 2'and 3, is a longitudinally extending latch-receiving recess I3 which is located adjacent the lower rear edge of the body portion Hi.

" As shown-best in'Fig. 4, the fixture supporting bracket' comprises a wall-engaging, substantially vertically extendingplate [5 which is provided with apertures l6 for receiving screws El (Figs.

2 and 3) or other suitable fastenera by means of which the wall-engaging plate is secured to a suitable wallor support {8. Adjacent its upper downwardly curved latchin portion 2|,the upper surface of which is substantially fiat, as

' shown best in Figs. 2 and 3. When the soap dish I or fixture I0 is in the tilted position shown in Fig. '2 for insertion of the bearing portion thereof into the open bottomed pivot arm by the arm I9,

the lower-rear edge portion ill of the soap dish rests on the fiat upper surface of the latch portion 2!; Upon the downward swinging or pivoting movement of 'the soap-dish Hi from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in -Fig.' 3 wherein the soap dish extends substan tially perpendicular to the supporting wall Hi, the lower edge portion Id-rides on the fiat upper surface-of the latching portion 21. This fiat portion forms a camming and guiding surface which retains the bearing surface I2 in the open sided pivot-and guides'the soap dish during pivotal movement into the position shown in Fig. '3,the

. lower arm of the bracket being depressed during this movement of the soap 'dish so that when the soap dish reaches the position shown in Fig. 3 the latch portion 2| will snap into the latchreceiving recess I3 and the rear edge portion M of the soap dish will be received within the curved portion 20 of the latch arm.

In this position the soap dish will be securely held in the desired relation to the supporting bracket between the pivot arm 13 and the latch arm 2|, the opposite edges of the latch portion being shaped so as firmly to engage the walls of the latch-receiving recess I 3. In this position the rear surface of the soap dish overlies the plate I5 and substantially conceals it from view, suitable slots 22 in the rear wall of the soap dish being provided for receiving the heads of the screws H. The latch arm comprising the portions 20 and 2i extends forwardly beneath the soap dish and is consequently substantially concealed from view, so that when the soap dish is properly mounted on the wall in its bracket only the upper surface of the forwardly extending arm I9 is exposed to view. 7

Preferably the wall-engaging plate and its forwardly extending arms are formed from sheet metal of relatively thin gauge so as'to provide suflicient resilience to accomplish the above-described latching, and accordingly it will be apparent that the rear wall of the soap dish I0 is supported in its bracket substantially flush with the wall or similar support l8 upon which it is mounted. Of course, if the body portion of the soap dish [0 is formed of transparent or translucent materiaLthe heads of the screws 57, together with the wall-engaging plate i5 the portions Eli and 2| of the latch arm, will be Visible therethrough, and if desired the corresponding portions of the rear and bottom surfaces of the body In may be plated or coated with an opaque material so as to conceal these supporting members from View and provide a pleasing decorative effect. Furthermore, it may be desirable in some constructions to provide a metal insert shaped to extend across the rear wall of the soap dish and provide the desired bearing and latching surfaces on the upper and lower edge portions respectively. Such an insert could of course be readily molded into the material of the body portion at the time the body portion is formed.

In the embodiment of this invention shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, the soap dish 30 is substantially identical with the soap dish in of the previously described embodiment except that the rear surface thereof is substantially fiat and is provided, as shown best in Fig. 8, with a vertically extending slot 3| which terminates at its upper edge in a bearing surface 32, and the lower edge of which is spaced a desired distance from a latch-receiving recess 33 formed in the bottom of the soap dish 30. In this embodiment of the invention, the bracket for receiving this soap dish'comprises a wall-engaging [plate 34 similar to the plate I5 which is provided with suitable apertures 35 for receiving screws or similar fasteners 36 in order to provide for securement of the bracket to a wall or similar support.

Adjacent its upper edge the plate 34 is provided with a curved arm 31, similar to the arm l9, which provides an open bottomed pivot, and at its lower edge the arm 34is provided with a substantially fiat forwardly extending latch arm 38 which is reversely bent, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, to provide a rearwardly extending latch portion 39 and a curved edge-receiving portion 40 similar -.to the portions 2 and 2B, respectively,.,ci the previously described embodiment.

In this embodiment of the invention the curved portion 45 is provided with an upwardly extending terminal portion 4| whichextends in front of the plate 34 and is provided with suitable apertures 42 through which access may behad .to the heads of the screws 36. When the portions 39, 40, and H of the supporting bracket are in the. relativ positions shown in Figs. 5 and? priorto insertion of the soap dish into the bracket, a .screw driver or similar tool may :be inserted through the apertures 42 so as todrive the securing screws 35 into the supporting wall and thus properly secure the plate 34 to the wall.. By

and moved inwardly and upwardly so asto move the portion ill rearwardly, whereupon the lower edge portion of the slot 3'! will rest on the fiat upper surface of the portion 39 of the latcharm 38. Tilting or pivotal movement of the soap dish 30 from thisinserted position will cause the lower edge portion of the slot 3| to ride inwardly over the portion 39 of the latch arm and depress the portion 33, Q and 4! until the soap dish 30 reaches the position shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the latch portion 39 will snapinto the latchreceiving recess 33 so as securely to latchthe soap dish in the position shown. It will be observedthat downward movement of the portion ti, upon insertion and pivoting of the soap dish, causes the apertures 42 therein to move to a position wherein they are offset from the heads of the screws 36, as shown in Fig. 6, and accordingly eventhough the bodyportion of the soap dish 30 formed of transparent material, the heads of the screws will be concealed from view, the.

apertures AZbeing relativelyinconspicuous inasmuch as the plate 34 and the portion 4| will be formed of the same material.

Since the slot 3|.in the rear wall of the soap dish 39 is of a width substantially equal to the length of the wall-engaging plate 34, it will be apparent that the plate will nest within this slot when the soap dish is in the position shown in Fig. 6, so that the rear surface of the soap dish will abut the supporting wall in substantially flush engagement therewith. It will of course be understood that the wall-engaging plates I and 34, as well as the arms extending therefrom, may be of any desired length in order to provide proper support for the fixture, and of course a plurality of supporting brackets may be employed if desired.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 9, the fixture is in the form of a towel bar comprising a U-shaped bar 50 which is secured at its opposite ends to suitable supporting blocks 5|, each of the blocks being provided With a slot 52 in the upper surface thereof and having the rear edge portion of the slot formed to provide a bearing surface 53. Likewise, each of the blocks 5| is provided with a latch-receiving recess 54 in the bottom wall thereof. Co-operating with each of the supporting blocks 5| is a one-piece hinge bracket comprising a Wall-engaging plate 55 having a curved arm 56 at the upper end thereof, providing an open bottomed pivot for receiving the bearing surface 53 on the supporting block, and having a latch arm 57 extending forwardly from the lower edge for latching engagement in the latch-receiving recess 54. In order to mount the towel bar in its supporting brackets, ,it is necessary only to tilt the towel bar so that the supporting blocks 5| are in tilted relation to the wall-engaging plates 55, whereupon the bearing surfaces 53 may be inserted into the open bottomed pivots and the towel bar swung or tilted to a substantiallyhorizontal position wherein it will be retained by the latch arms 51. Removalwof .the

soap dishes l0 and 30 or of the towel bar 50 from their respectivesupporting brackets for the :pur-

, poses of cleaning or sterilization can, of course,

be accomplished simply by, exerting .a sufficient upward pressure on the front edges thereof to tilt the fixture body portions upwardly, or if desired the outermost ends of the latch arms may be manually grasped and depressed so as to readily permit such upward tilting movement without the exertion of any great force on the body portion of the fixture.

While I have shownparticular embodiments of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any uch modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

. lation an edge portion of a fixture, and a second arm extending forwardly from said plate on the opposite side of said securing means including a reversely bent rearwardly extending resilient portion having a terminal portion extending in front of said securing means, said terminal portion having an aperture therein to permit access to said securing means, said rearwardly extending portion being engageable by an opposite edge portion of said fixture for depression thereby upon insertion of said first mentioned edge portion into said open pivot and pivotal movement of said fixture to a position between said arms, said terminal portion upon depression of said rearwardly extending portion being moved to a position wherein said aperture is offset from in front of said securing means to conceal th same, said rearwardly extending portion when depressed latching said fixture in said position between said arms.

2. In combination, a fixture comprising a body having a rear edge portion shaped to provide a bearing surface and having a latch receiving recess in the bottom wall thereof adjacent an opposed rear edge portion, the rear wall of said recess meeting said bottom wall in an abrupt edge, and a supporting bracket for hingedly e i ing and for removably supporting said fixture body comprising a wall engaging plate having opposed arms extending forwardly therefrom, said opposed arms including inwardly extending portions respectively forming an open pivot on one arm and a latch portion on the other arm spaced apart a distance less than the distance between said rear edge portions of said fixture, said fixture body upon insertion of said bearing surface into said open pivot being hingedly connected to said bracket for pivotal movement therein, said opposed rear edge portion engaging said latch portion during such pivotal movement to spread said arms and permit said fixture body to swing into a position therebetween, said latch portion when said opposed edge portion swings therebeyond snapping into said latch receiving recess over said abrupt edge firmly to support said fixture between said arms. a I r 3. In combination, a fixture comprising a body having an upper rear edge portion shaped to provide a bearing surface and having a latch receiving recess in the bottom wall thereof in spaced relation to an opposed rear edge portion, the rear wall of said recess meeting said 'bottom wall in an abrupt edge, a wall engaging plate having opposed arms extending forwardly therefrom to receive said fixture body therebetween, one of said arms being shaped to form an open pivot into which said bearing surface is insertable withsaid fixture in tilted relation to said plate, said other arm being depressible by said opposed edge portion as said fixture is swung in said pivot to a position substantially perpendicular to said plate and having a latch portion for snapping into said latch receiving recess over said abrupt edge to support said fixture firmly on said plate in said substantially perpendicular position.

4. In combination, a fixture comprising a body having a rear edge portion shaped to provide a bearing surface and having a latch receiving recess in the bottom wall thereof adjacent an op posed rear edge portion, the rear wall of said recess meeting said bottom wall in an abrupt edge, a

- wall engaging plate having opposed arms extending forwardly therefrom to receive said rear edge portions therebetween, one of said arms forming an open pivot into which said bearing surface is insertable with said fixture tilted relative to said to form a bearing surface and having a latch receiving recessin a bottom wallthereof adjacent a rear lower edge, the rear wall of said recess meeting said bottom wall in an abrupt edge, a substantially verticall disposed wall engaging plate having means for securement to a supporting wall, an arm extending from the upper edge of said plate shaped to form an open bottomed pivot for receiving said bearing surface, a second arm extending from the lower edge of said plate having a portion'spaced from said first arm insufficiently to permit insertion of said bearing surface into said pivot'except by tilting of said fixture, said portion of said second arm being depressible by said rear lower edge as said body portion is swung downwardly from said tilted position, and said second arm having a latch portion for snapping into said latch receiving recess over said abrupt edge firmly to support said fixture in a position'wherein said plate and said second arm are substantially concealed by said fixture body portion upon swingin movement thereto.

6. A fixture comprising a body portion having a longitudinally extending fiat rear surface, a vertical transversely extending slot in said rear surface terminating at its upper edge in a portion shaped to provide a bearing surface, a latch receiving recess in the bottom wall of said body portion' adjacent the lower edge of said slot, a wall engaging plate having a width less than the width of said slot and having means for securement to a wall and an arm extending from an upper edge thereof shaped to provide an open pivot for receiving said bearing surface with the rear surface of said body in tilted relation to said plate, a

second arm extending from said plate having a latch portion for releasably engaging in said latch receiving recess upon insertion of said bearing surface in said open pivot and movement of said body portion from said tilted position to a position in which said rear surface is closely adjacent said wall and said plate is substantially enclosed within said slot for concealment therey.

' ROY S. SANFORD. 

